342 LEriDOPTEKA. 



Leach. The Tineids are a family of great extent, 

 and the species are very destructive to vegetation, having in- 

 numerable modes of attack. The}' may be distinguished 

 from the Tortricidce by their smaller size, while the narrow 

 wings which lie on the top of, or are rolled around the body 

 when at rest, are often falcate, or pointed acutely, and edged 

 with a long fringe of exceeding delicacy. The maxillary palpi 

 are greatly developed, while the labial palpi are of the usual 

 size, and usually recurved in front of the head. The antenna? are 

 long and filiform. The larva? are cylindrical, variously 

 wrinkled transversely, and with from fourteen to sixteen feet. 

 They often construct cases in which they live, and usually spin 

 a slight silken cocoon. About 1,200 species are already known 

 in Europe alone. Those of this country have been mostly de- 

 scribed by Dr. Clemens. 



In studying this interesting family, Stainton remarks that 

 "the elongated wings, the slender body and the long or very 

 long fringes to the wings, are characters by which the Tineid*e 

 may generally be recognized at once ; and the development of 

 the palpi and their variety in form and structure, offer most 

 tangible grounds for separating the greater number of the gen- 

 era. Indeed, if the student will look at the head of a species 

 to see whether it is hairy or smooth, if he will then notice the 

 palpi, whether the maxillary palpi are developed and to what 

 extent, and whether the labial palpi are slender, ascending or 

 drooping, whether the second joint is densely clothed with 

 scales, or bears a long protruding tuft, and if he will farther 

 notice the form of the hind wings, which are either well rounded 

 or very pointed, or indented towards the tip, he will be per- 

 fectly surprised to see how easily he will arrange these insects 

 into genera by their structure." 



The larva? vary excessively in the number of legs, sixteen 

 being the usual number, but in several genera (Gracilaria, Lith- 

 ocolletis, etc.), we only find fourteen; in Nepticula, though 

 the legs are but poorly developed, they number eighteen ; on the 

 other hand the larva? of a few of the smaller genera (Antispila, 

 Tinagma, etc.) are absolutely footless. 



For collecting and preserving these minute and delicate 

 moths, which are called by collectors, micro-lepidoptera, especial 



